Identification of metabolites of nerve agent VX in serum collected from a victim

J Anal Toxicol. 1998 Sep;22(5):383-8. doi: 10.1093/jat/22.5.383.

Abstract

A human serum sample collected from a victim of the Osaka VX incident was analyzed according to our developed technique for metabolites of VX. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in full-scan electron impact and chemical ionization modes were used, and, for more reliable confirmation, GC-MS-MS was also employed. In the serum sample, both ethyl methylphosphonic acid and 2-(diisopropylamino-ethyl)methyl sulfide were detected. These results indicated that the techniques using GC-MS and GC-MS-MS were applicable to biological samples such as serum. These results also provide the first documented, unequivocal identification of the specific metabolites of VX in victim's serum and, furthermore, clarify a part of the metabolic pathway of VX in the human body.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / metabolism*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / blood*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylene Chloride / chemistry
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds / blood*

Substances

  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds
  • Methylene Chloride
  • VX